Dear Editor,
After reading the article that MP Leona wrote in The Daily Herald of Monday, January 11, I would like to commend her for the research she did in putting forward an initiative law to make it possible for St. Maarten students living abroad to be able to vote in the upcoming St. Maarten Parliamentary Election on September 26. Her proposal I believe will serve our students better where students not only living in the Netherlands, but who are living abroad as well would be able to vote.
The other part of the proposal where St. Maarten students could register their correct address with the Civil Registry wherever they reside, and still be able to vote including persons who live on the French side as well is definitely a win-win situation. This initiative law also would give the Government a real number of the people who physically reside in St. Maarten, whereby Government would be able to take more sound decisions because of the accuracy of our basic administration.
The MP said that a separate civil registry should be created for those students residing outside of St. Maarten. This initiative law would broaden the possibility of giving certain groups of persons the right to vote. It's also important to take note that to have this law approved the Constitution would have to be changed, which requires a two-third majority support in Parliament. Changing the Constitution I believe as well cannot be in conflict with Kingdom laws, so this law will take some time to be approved and to go into effect.
Can Government pull this off before the September 26 Parliamentary Election? This is left to be seen.
Board of Concordia
Political Alliance (CPA)
